Machine for testing and assorting resistance elements



March 1947. s. L. HANDFORTH EIAL 2,417,433

MACHINE FOR TESTING AND ASSORTING RESISTANCE ELEMENTS Filed June 13, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS STANLEY L HANDFORTH amass n. JOHNSON ATTORNEY Marchls, 1947- s. 1.. HANDFORTH ETAL- 2,417,488

MACHINE FOR TESTING AND ASSORTING RESISTANCE ELEMENTS Filed June 15, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm/mr/o/v mom/97mm INSl/L/i INVENTOR$ STANLEY L. HANDFORTH CHARLES R- JOHNSON Mam 2M ATTORNEY March 18, 1947- s. L. HANDFORTH ET'AL. 2,417,488

MACHINE FOR Ts'rme AND ASSORTING RESISTANCE ELE'MENTS Filed June 125,. 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Lag- .5

' INVENTORS STANLEY 1.. NANDFORTH awn. R- JOHNSON ATTORNEY March 4 s. L. HANDFORTH ETAL MACHINE FOR TESTING AND ASSORTING RESISTANCE ELEMENTS Filed June 13, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR'E: STANLEY L- HANDFORTH CHARLES R. JOHNSO ATTORNEY March 1947- S.-L. HANDFORTH ETAL 2,417,438

MACHINE FOR TESTING AND ASSORTI NG RESISTANCE ELEMENTS Filed June 13, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 5 STANLEY L. HANDFoRTH IQRLES R. JOHNSON 94 ATTORNEY Mam}! 947. s. 1.. HANDFORTH ETAL 1 MACHINE FOR TESTING AND ASSORTING RESISTANCE ELEMENTS Filed June 13, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 RWM Y mM m WINE .O W m vm WA M m m N was s. L HANDFORTH ET AL 8 RESISTANCE ELEMENTS March 18, 1947.

MACHINE FOR TESTING AND ASSORTING 9 Sheets-Shet 7 Filed June 13, 1942 INVENTORS STANLEY L.HANDFORTH AkLES R. JDHNSON ATTORNEY March 1947- s. 1.. HANDFORTH ET AL MACHINE'FOR TESTING AND ASSORTING RESISTANCE ELEMENTS.

' 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June 13, 1942 R w Y m M NH E w v T m n H5 E WM x mm SC March 1947- s. L. HANDVFORTH ETAL 2,417,488

TAHOE ELEMENTS MACHINE FOR TESTING AND ASSORTING RESIS Filed June 13, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 9/ "#12928 AW 94/ W9 1 a b yyl MS 39079 AW 99/ 4 9 1957 ms Mid?! AVA! 6.4/ NV? QQ A b .Sw ER .22

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k235 w as smw AW R Y DN E T- N N M R E W0 w n IYS A m 3m 5c Patented Mar. 18, 1947 MACHINE FOR TESTING AND ASSORTING RESISTANCE ELEMENTS Stanley L. Handforth,

Charles R. Johnson, Glenn Wilmington, DeL, and

Mills, Pa., assignors to E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application June 13, 1942, Serial No. 446,980

36 Claims. 1

This invention relates to testing and the like, including tests that involve application of testi power to devices to be tested, as by passing electric current through them, or subjecting them to applied voltage. The invention presents features of novelty as regards the operations more directly involved in the testing, and also as regards manipulating or handling the devices, and includes novel apparatus and mechanism for these purposes. While the invention is hereinafter explained with particular reference to a system of operations, apparatus, and mechanism in which testing and manipulation are combined, yet various features included in this system may if desired be used separately, or in embodiments or combinations involving methods, mechanisms, or parts quite different from those here illustrated.

A class of devices for which the invention is very useful consists of those having electric circuits whose resistance or impedance should be of definite values, or should lie within a range between definite maximum and minimum limits. Such devices may include current leads or conductors of relatively low resistance with an interposed resistance element or feature, such as a short length of fine wire or filament, for example. The effective overall internal resistance of such a device depends on the lengths and sizes of its lead-wires, the intervening length and size of resistance-wire or filament, and the characteristics of any joints between its components-and also, of course. on the uniformity and integrity of leads, resistance element, and joints. The over-all resistance of the device also depends on the materials of its several components. Errors involving any of these resistance-determining factors may readily occur in manufacture, and are difficult of detection by direct inspection; so that an over-all test that will reveal any deviation of the resistance or impedance of the device from standard (in excess of allowable tolerances) is desirable, and may in some cases be practically imperative,

A particular class of devices in which conformity to standards and reliable detection of variations beyond allowable tolerances are peculiarly important and delicate consists of electric detonators or blasting caps. Th usual detonator or blasting cap comprises a charge of very powerful and sensitive explosive, such as mercury fulminate. packed in a metal shell or cap around a fine bridgewire, which is connected between long insulated lead-wires-some four to twelve feet long, more or less. It is very important that the electric circuit resistance of a detonator through its leads and bridgewire should meet carefully determined and exacting specifications, so that. detonators shall fire reliably on their rated firing current; for a detonator that does not fire cannot safely be replaced with another detonator, and yet the unfired charge of dynamite in the rock or structure to be blasted is far too dangerous to be left undealt with. Because of the limited energy available for firing detonators from batteries of dry cells (in places often remote from power lines), their bridgewires have to be very fine and fragile, so that the charging and packing of fulminate or the like around the bridgewires is a delicate operation-to say nothing of the sensitiveness of the fulminate, and the danger of accidentally setting it off during all stages of the charging, completion, and packeting of the detonators. In practice, it has been found advisable to attach the bridgewires directly to the long insulated copper wires that are used as leads, since detonator leads with mechanically formed joints in them would give a circuit of uncertain integrity and electrical resistance, while the making of autogenous or welded lead joints after the detonators had been Charged with explosive would be likely to give rise to explosions. The length of the leads makes it necessary to wind them up into some compact form, to make a package suitable for shipmentsuch as an alongated coil or skein, which may be of the figure-8 type. It is generally preferable to test the electrical resistance of the detonator after its leads have been wound or coiled.

The possibility of accidental explosion of detonators during manipulation or testing is a very serious hazard; for while the quantity of explosive in a detonator is small, yet to fire dynamite reliably it has to be so powerful that explosion of a single detonator may blow a person's hand off, and simultaneous explosion of a bunch of detonators may inflict a fatal injury.

An important object of this invention is to facilitate, expedite, and cheapen the manipulation and testing of the devices. In the case of detonators or other explosive devices, we also aim to obviate or minimize the risk of accidental explosions and of injuries to workers. The invention may be used not only for distinguishing or rejecting devices that are defective or unsatisfactory from satisfactory devices, but also for discriminating amongst or sorting out devices of difierent ratings when intermingled.

In a preferred mode of carrying out our invention, a plurality of devices are tested more or less concurrently, or in overlapping sequence-in other words, in relations of partial concurrence. This allows output of fully tested devices at a desirably rapid rate, while all the work with them is done comparatively slowly-which is very desirable in order to obviate or minimize risks of accidental explosions, The apparatus may include a plurality of testing connectors, and each device may be connected several times and undergo several tests, which may be either diverse or identica1repetition of the same test affording a measure of protection against erroneous indications from any one test. In successive tests which are otherwise repetitive, the connections of electric contact terminals of the connectors to the testing circuits may be reversed, so as to obviate errors due to contact resistance. The characteristics and the consequent responses of devices under test may be specially indicated to an observer in any preferred manner, or may be made apparent as a sorting out or separation amongst the devices that have been tested, determined automatically by their behavior under test-as by means responsive to flow of current through the devices, under applied voltage, according to their electrical resistances. In such a test, absence of current flow of course indicates some defect in the internal circuit of a device.

A convenient way of testing and sorting devices is to provide for their traveling or being fed to and from the testing means or connectors in succession, and to direct the tested devices diversely according to their behavior under testas by rejecting or diverting devices from their course of travel, or by releasing or rejecting such devices from the feeding or conveyor means whereby they are fed or carried along to or past the testingmeans. The movement of the devices may be intermittent or step-by-step, with pauses during which testing power or voltage is applied through the testing circuits and the connectors. The direction, diversion, release, or rejection of the devices is automatically determined in response to the behavior of the devices when tested. A variety of types of electrical testing and control apparatus are suitable for passing current through the devices under test and for indicating or registering their behavior and determining the action of the sorting or separating means in response thereto, according to the impedance or resistance of the devices. Besides the particular combination of circuits and apparatus here illustrated and described, various known testing and control systems comprising electronic, electromagnetic, or other relays are readily adaptable for the purpose.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of a species or form of embodiment, and from the drawings. All the features and combinations shown or described are of our invention, so far as they are novel.

- In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view of a machine embodying the invention, showing the feeding means or turret conveyor at the top of the machine in vertical section, and also showing one of the frame uprights or columns partly broken away; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with the turret in horizontal section as indicated by the line and arrows 2-2 in Fig. 1, certain parts below the turret being partially broken away; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of an outer segment of the conveyor turret, on a larger scale than-Figs. 1 and 2, and partly in horizontal section as indicated by the line and arrows 3-3 in Fig. 4, showing parts of a gripper device, and with part of an ejector below the gripper shown in dotted lines; and Fig. 4 is a corresponding fragmentary edge view of the turret, afiording an end view of the gripper, and showing part of the ejector in full lines.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of certain switches and the cams for operating them, with some of the associated parts in section a indicated by the line and arrows 5-5 in Fig. 2, all on a larger scale than Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a side view of an ejector mechanism for defective devices that have been tested, taken as indicated by the line and arrows 6t in Fig. 2, also showing part of the turret rim in section and affording a side view of one of the grippers or clamps for the tested devices, all on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 7 is a view of the ejector mechanism at right angles to Fig. 6, with certain parts broken away and in section, and showing a coacting part that is carried by the turret.

Fig. 8 shows a vertical section through circuitcontrolling mechanism of the machine, taken as indicated by the line and arrows 8-8 in Fig. 9; Fig. 9 is a plan view of this same electric controller, certain parts being shown partly broken out and in section; Fig. 10 is a view of one of the switch devices shown in Figs. 8 and 9, from the right of Fig. 11; Fig. 1l is a vertical sectional view illustrating one of these switch devices and mechanism for actuating it, taken as indicated by the line and arrows li-H in Figs. 9 and 10, and 'showinganother position of a part in dotand-dash lines; Fig. 12 isa fragmentary view at right anglesto Fig.- 11 partly sectional, taken as indicated by the line and arrows 52-42 in Fig.

11, and showing other positions of parts in dotand-dash lines; and Fig. 13 is a plan view with parts in horizontal section as indicated by the line and arrows |3l3 in Fig. 8. Fig. 14 is a general circuit diagram for the machine, some of its principal mechanical parts being also shown diagrammatically; Fig. 15 is a partial circuit diagram on a larger scale than Fig. 14, showing in detail certain features that are only arbitrarily indicated in Fig. 14; and Fig. 16 is a timing diagram illustrating the sequence of operation of various devices and mechanisms, according to one mode of operation of the machine.

A general idea of the organization of the machine may be obtained from Figs. 1 and 2.

The means here shown for feeding along the devicesD to be tested comprises a moving car rier or conveyor in the form of a turret '20 revolving about an upright aXis determined by a shaft 2! that is journalled in a hub 22 at the top of the machine frame 23. This frame 23 is shown as comprising a base 24 with upright columns rising therefrom, and a top plate 25 attached to the upper ends of the columns. As shown, the turret 20 has a stepwise movement which is imparted to it from a constantly rotating upright drive shaft 26 through any suitable intermittent drive or indexing mechanism, such as a Geneva movement whose coacting parts 2'1, 28 are mounted on the upper end of the shaft 26 and on a short stub shaft 29 upstanding from a hub 3i) on the frame top 25. The connection from the Geneva movement to the'turret 28 may consist of intermeshing toothed-gears Si, 32 that are connected to the parts .28, 20, respectively. As here shown, the Geneva movement has a 4:1 reduction, and the gears 3 l, 32 have a 2:1 reduction, so that the turret 20 makes one revolution for eight revolutions of the drive shaft 25. The shaft 26 may be mounted in hearings in the frame top 25 and in a bracket 33 upstanding from the frame base 24, and may itself be driven through bevel gearing 34, 35 from a horizontal shaft 36 mounted in a bearing on bracket 33 and in a bearing bracket 31 attached to the frame base 24, and driven by any suitable means-such as a constant speed electric motor mounted directly thereon and on the base 24, but not here illustrated.

For supporting the devices D, the turret 20 may be provided with supporting means or car rier at regular intervals around its circumference, such carrier means here shown comprising spring clamps 4|! for holding the free ends of the leads L, L, which extend upward from the figure 8 skein S into which the leads are coiled-the blasting caps or detonators (1 being tucked into the lower loops of the skeins. Thus each skein S and detonator d hang by the leads L, L. As here shown, the carriers 40 are located at 45 intervals around the turret 29, which moves a corresponding angular distance at each step of its movement. At each revolution of the drive shaft 25, therefore, each support and the device D carried thereby moves from one position or station to that previously occupied by the support and device D next ahead of it. Accordingly, there are eight of the supports 4!] on the turret 20, and eight stations which they successively traverse, and where they pause or dwell. At the stations marked I, II, III, and IV in Fig. 2, the devices D carried by the supports 40 may be tested; at the station (or stations) just preceding I, devices D to be tested may be placed on or in the carriers 40, as described more fully hereinafter; at the station marked V, devices D whose behavior under test is unsatisfactory may be released or ejected from the machine; and at the station marked VI, satisfactory devices may be released, removed, or ejected.

As best shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, each wireholding clamp 45 is constructed with clamp jaws 4|, 42, 4| arranged side by side in generally horizontal positions, and coasting to hold and grip the two leads L, L separately and yieldingly, with an elastic pressure exerted by a helical spring 44. By elastically gripping the wires L, L separately, a proper hold on both of them is assured, re-

gardless of any inequalities or irregularities of wire size. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the midjaw 42 extends radially of the carrier 20, is tapered and rounded at its outer or forward end, lies between the leads L, L, and is fixed by rivets to the lower side of a bracket 45 that is attached to the periphery of the turret 25. The outer jaws 4|, 4| press the leads L, L against the opposite sides of the jaw 42 and are pivoted at intermediate points in their own length to the bracket 45, by means of bolts or pins 45, 45. The outer or front ends of the jaws 4|, 4| are bevelled and rounded away from the jaw 42, and are urged together toward the latter b the helical spring 44, which is shown in Fig. 3 as acting in compression between the rear or inner ends of the jaws, against the bottoms of socket-recesses 41, 41 in which the spring ends are engaged. Thus the openings of the jaws 4|, 42, 4| are presented forward or outward around the turret 20, for sidewise insertion and withdrawal of the leads L, L. In front of their pivots 45, 45, the jaws 4|, 4| have downward projecting lugs 48, 4B, which are oppositely bevelled at their adjacent rear corners, Fig. 3, for a purpose that will appear hereinafter.

In practice, the devices D to be tested may be placed in the carriers 40 at the station(s) just preceding station I by simply forcing the bare ends Z, l of their leads L, L sidewise between the clamp jaws 4|, 42, 4| as the latter pass or pause at this station. This can be done by hand very easily and conveniently. At the same time, the leads L, L can be inspected to see that they are properly coiled and of exactly the same length, and that their ends Z, Z (Figs. 1 and a) are properly stripped of insulation. As here shown, the electrical testing connections for the devices D move with the carrier 20, and are made through means associated with the supporting clamps 40 and engaging the upper ends Z, Z of the leads L, L of each device D, Fig. 4. Accordingly, the front ends of the jaws 4|, 4| of each clamp 40 are shown provided with insulative facings 49, 49 where they engage the bare lead ends I, l, and the whole middle jaw 42 is shown as insulative. Contacts 55 for making electrical connection to the lead ends Z, Z may be inset and secured in the insulative jaw 42. Thus contact connections to the leads L, L are made by the mere act of inserting their bare ends I, Z into the clamp 48 which holds and supports the device I) during its travel with the carrier turret 20. Accordingly, each carrier clamp with its upper and lower pairs of contacts 55, 5B and 5B, 50 also serves as a connector for connecting a device D to a testing circuit of the machine at each of the stations I, II, III, IV, as more fully explained hereinafter.

As shown in Fig. 2, electrical connections to the moving contacts 50 are also made by means of other connectors in the nature of commutator arrangements, comprising annular trackways each consisting of conductive segments 5| and intervening insulative segments mounted around the moving carrier 25, with corresponding contact blocks or brushes 52 insulatively mounted on the stationary frame plate 25. For each clamp 40, there is a set of the connector segments 5|, and each clamp contact is connected by a lead wire 53 to a segment 5| of the corresponding set. Each connector brush 52 is connected to a corresponding testing circuit lead 54. As shown in Fig. 1, the carrier turret 20 has an inner insulative rim 55 provided with annular grooves in which the several trackways are mounted. Inside the rim 55, Figs. 1 and 2, there is a set of the brush blocks 52 corresponding to each of the testing stations I, II, III, IV, for engaging the conductive trackway segments 5| pertaining to each set of contacts 58 as these segments pass said stations. The brush blocks 52 of each set are shown mounted on horizontally swinging arms 55 (Figs. 2) which are themselves insulatively mounted on a supporting stud 51 upstanding from the plate 25. To assure engagement of the brush blocks 52 with the trackways with adequate contact pressure, they may be spring-pressed against the trackways. A here shown, the brush blocks 52 are arranged to slide in sockets or guides on the ends of the arms 56, and are urged against the trackways by cantilever leaf springs 58 attached to the arms, while the arms are antiturningly secured on the studs 51 by clamping nuts 59 on the upper ends of the studs.

For the purpose of general, over-all control of the energization of certain test-responsive circuits of the machine in proper relation to its mechanical operation, as explained hereinafter, there may be an electric switch 55 of mercury tube type. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, this switch 60 is mounted in an upstanding arm ofa swinging three-armed rocker 6| that is fulcrumed to 7 rock freely on a pivot shaft 62 mounted'in a U-shaped part 63 attached to the bearing bracket 37 upstanding from the machine base 24. An

with a flat front face for engaging against the corresponding leads L, L of a device D and pushing them outward out of the H, 12 swings outward. A little before the head "It strikes the leads L, L, its oppositely bevelled sides i7, i7 engage between the bevels of the lugs 48, 58 on the jaws 6!, 4i and open the clamp 40. Thus the device D is may extend inward from in Fig. 6, the ejector arm H for defective devices D and its actuator 8| are separate parts pivoted side by side on the pivot 13, in the forked end of the bracket 74, but are the pivots i3, 73, and these pivots. As shown The provisions for operatively connecting and disconnecting the ejector ll for defective devices D and its actuator 81 are shown in Figs. 6 and 7 as of a latch-like type, comprising a bolt I00 slidable lengthwise in a guideway bore of a lateral projection mm on the arm H, and engaging at its inner end in a socket notch of a lateral projection m2 on the pivot hub of the actuating arm at. For moving the bolt I00 lengthwise of the arm N, there is an operator in the form of a solenoid or electromagnet coil I05 mounted on its core pivend of the bolt by means of a transverse member H36. As here shown, the solenoid I85 acts only to withdraw the bolt I00 from engagement with the actuator 81, so that the actuator 3! always operates the ejector 7! unless the solenoid is energized; and hence the result of any misfunctioning as regards energization of the solenoid m5 is on the side of safety as against failure to eject a defective device D. For holding the ejector arm H at the inner limit or extreme of its movement (or returning it to that position) when it is disconnected from the actuator 8!, there is shown a helical tension spring it? connected between an anchorage pin 5% on the arm 7! and a similar pin [69 on the bracket 74. The extreme inner position of the ejector it may be determined by adjustable stop means such as a screw H0 taking through the arm ll and engaging against astop shoulder III on the bracket F E.

For positively resetting or reengaging the bolt ltd after its withdrawal by the solenoid I05 as above described, mechanical actuating means Figs. 8 and 7. As each support 40 moves from station V to station H2 engages and pushes against a roller H3 at the outer end of a rod H5 that is slidably mounted in the guideway bore of a lateral projection M6 on the arm H and is so 131213113 they always form a single bell-crank 2 3 5 gi i gfii g t as s own in Fig. 1. Both ejectors ll, 72 may e is conveniently be operated by a single cam 85 fast reset after each wlthdrawal by the solenoid H15, on the horizontal shaft 3% and having a lateral so that the actuator 85 Operate the eJectQr g1 cove 111 which is engaged a roller 86 rotatably r f the succeedmg devlce D If necess ary' Thls mounted on the side of a vertically swinging lever gi jf g gg ggi gg i gfifi g gi m gg g g 8'5 fulcrumed or pivoted at 88 on a bracket 39 1 e m er attached to the frame base 24, and having its a l telatlon to one another as Shown in fun g g zfi by a link 90 to a slide or crossl ififr iir lling the energization of the solenoid ea s m v e head Si is shown connected by link-rods 9t, 95 9 22 g g D fi test asfexplamed (Figs. 1 and c) to the free inner ends of the g f e an electltc SWItCh ejector actuators BI, 32, which thus swing up and and g f y 1n 2 oown together at each revolution of the shaft 36. c 1 1s moun ed m an ups The hnk rods g4 95 may be of turnbuckle type mg arm or a swinging three-armed rocker l2! and thus adJustble m length to permit indej that is similar to the rocker 6| above described t limits of of iitytfttttitti "instants?at wo ac ua ors As t e shaft like the shaft 26 makes one revolution for each one-eighth r roller on the horizon-ml aim of the rocker tum f u 60 i2! engages the periphery of a separate switch- 0 1e turret 28 that shifts a carrier d8 Operatin ed Swan '25 fi d th h I from one station to the next it will be seen that drive shift a is g g i gi g g, each actuator 32 lspperatecl by cam 85 the clockwise action of a spring 526 all substanwhen each clamp 1s in line with 1ts ejector I! it many as in the case of th rocker fil and the cam at the colrespondmg V or VI In F 1g 65. The circuit connections and functions of the one extreme position or limit of movement of the switch will be d scribed hereinafter actuator arm 8! for thedefective-device e ector Besides t switches 53 and 5 aiready H is shown in full lines, and the other extreme sbrjbed, th is h w i Fig i, '2, 8, d 9 a positionis shown in dot-and-dash-lines; and simcircuit-controller or commutator I 29 having a ilarly for the good-device e ector '12 in Fig. 1. rotor I38 whose upright shaft I3! may be driven VI, the corresponding cam pivotally connected at from the main drive shaft 36 through the upright shaft 26, and with which may be associated an enclosing frame structure or casing I32 having a detachable top cover I33. Tapped holes I34 are shown in the upper edge of the casing I32 in Figs. 8' and 9 for cover-securing screws (not shown), The casing I32 may be supported by means of a bracket I35 attached to a pedestal I36 that is mounted on the base 24 and affords bearing for the shaft 13!, As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 8, the driving connection from shaft 26 to shaft I3I comprises toothed gears I31, I38 and an interposed idler pinion I39 on a short upright shaft I40 that is mounted in the bracket 33. The gear ratio of this gear train I31-I39-I38 may be 4 to 1, so that the controller rotor I30 makes one-fourth revolution for each revolution of shafts 36 and 23, and for each feed-movement of turret 20 that carries a device D from one of the stations I, II, III, IV, V, VI to the next station. Owing to the interposition of the idler I39, the controller rotor I30 turns in the same direction as the turret 26, though with a uniform rotation instead of a stepwise movement like that of the turret.

As above indicated, and as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the controller or commutator I29 comprises a rotor I30 which moves in a definite correlation with the motion of the shafts 26 and 36 (and with the movements of the feed means 20) and carries certain parts, as well as an associated stationary frame structure or casing I32 supporting certain other parts. With the driving connections above described, the carrier rotor I30 makes i revolution each time the feed-means 20 and its carriers to move the distance from one testing station I, 11,111, IV- to another. Adjacent the outer margin of the carrier I30, there are stationed rocker actuators I55 for oscillatory makeand-break switches I56 (shown in Figs, 9-11 as of mercury-tube type), each actuator I55 being mounted on the inner end of a shaft-axis I51 which extends through a bearing in the wall of the casing I32 and carries the mercury tube switch device on an upstanding arm I58. The range of oscillation of each switch I56 may be limited by any suitable means, such as stop pins I53, I59 projecting inward from the wall of the casing I32, in position to engage the actuator I55 above and below its axis, Figs. and 12. Means are preferably provided for giving each switch I56 a snap action, such as a helical tension spring I60 connected between the end of a crank-arm IBI on the shaft I51 and an anchorage I62 projecting from the casing I32, in such relation to the crank-arm I6I that the spring swings past a dead-center during the movement of the switch that is permitted by the stops I59, I59.

As best shown in Figs. 11 and 12, each actuator I55 has actuating arms I63, I56 at opposite sides of its axis and of the carrier I30, in position to engage the bevel-edged (upper and lower) ends of actuating members or pins I65 that are mount ed in axially-extending guideways or bores in the carrier I30, near its periphery. The vertical positions of each actuating pin I55 in its guideway may be fixed by suitable locking or detent means, shown as a spring-pressed ball I66 mounted in a bore in the carrier I30 and coacting alternatively with upper and lower recesses or annular grooves in the pin. The upper end of the pin I65 and its guide-bore are shown enlarged, so that the corresponding shoulders of pin and carrier limit downward movement of the pin, while its upward movement may be limited by an inwardextending stop lug I69 on the casing :32, Fig, 9.

From an examination of Figs. 8, 11, and 12, it will be seen that a pin I65 in its lower full line position of these figures can pass an actuator I55 without engaging either of its arms I63, I64 when the actuator I55 and its switch I56 are in their full-line, open-circuit positions; but that if the switch and actuator are in the closed-circuit positions corresponding to the dot-and-dash showing of the actuator in Fig. 12, the lower end of the pin I65 will strike the lower actuator arm H54 and swing the actuator and switch to their full-line, open-circuit positions. On the other hand, a pin I65 in its upper, dot-and-dash position of Figs. 11 and 12 can pass the actuator I55 without engaging either of its arms I63, I64 when the actuator and its switch are in the closed-circuit positions corresponding to the dot-and-dash showing of the actuator in Fig. 12; but if the switch and actuator are in the open-circuit positions shown in full lines in Figs. 10 and 11, the upper end of the pin I65 will strike the upper actuator arm I63 and swing the actuator and switch to their closed-circuit positions, indicated by the dot-and-dash showing of the actuator in Fig. 12.

For raising each pin I65 to its upper position in Figs, 8, 11, and 12, there is a pusher and slide member I10 operatively connected to the armature or core piece I1I of an electro-magnet or solenoid coil I12. As shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 13, the solenoids I12 are mounted at intervals around the outside of the casing I32, and the members I10 are mounted on double levers I13 whose outer ends are connected to the solenoid cores I1'I by links I14, while their inner ends are fulcrumed or pivoted at I15 on a collar I16 that is mounted around a central boss of the casing @322, that affords bearing for the rotor shaft I3I. For depressing the pins I65, there are stationary inclined crown-cams I18 above their path of travel, mounted on the inside of the casing I32, each cam between an actuator I55 and the succeeding pusher I10; so that after a pin I65 raised by one pusher I10 passes the next actuator I55, it is depressed by the succeeding cam I18 before reaching any succeeding part of the mechanism I29. Similar inclined crown-cams I19 are also shown on the carrier I30 between its pins I65, for engaging each lever I13 to depress its pusher I10 and core I1I after the pusher I10 has acted on a pin I65--provided, that is, these parts I10, I1 I do not drop by gravity as soon as the coil I12 which raised them is deenergized.

It will be seen, therefore, that as long as the pins I65 remain in their lower, full-line positions, all the switches I56 will remain open; that whenever a solenoid or coil I12 is energized, its corresponding pusher I10 will raise the pin I65 that is then over this pusher, so that the pin will act on the first actuator I55 that it encounters to close the corresponding switch I56; that this pin I65 will then be depressed by the next stationary cam I18 in its path, before reaching another switchactuator I55; and that the switch I56 that has been closed as just described will be opened by the succeeding cam I19 of carrier I30 before the succeeding pin I65 reaches its actuator I55.

The electric circuit connections of the switches I55 and solenoids I12 will be explained hereinafter, as well as the functions of the switches and the purposes and results of thus closing and reopening them.

Figs. 14 and 15 are wiring diagrams illustrating an electrical testing and sorting or rejection '1 l control system andits coordination with the feed of devices along the series of testing and rejection stations I, II, III, IV, V by the feed-means 26 and its carriers lIi, etc. Principal mechanical features of the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 are diagrammatically represented in Figs. 14 and 15, some of them rearranged or in simplified mechanical forms, which in certain instances diifer greatly from the forms shown in Figs. 1-8. For example, the feed means or turret 20 is shown with a great part of its circumference unrolled into the plane of the paper; the relative positions of the parts 34, 65, 85, I25 on the shaft 36 are different; the gears I31, I 38, I39 are in different positions relative to the observer from Fig. 1; and the controller casing I32 is omitted and the carrier I30 is arbitrarily illustrated as if its whole outer circumferential margin were unrolled into parallelism with the plane of the paper, like the carrier turret 20, since it might, indeed, even be embodied in this turret. While Figs. 1, 2, and 14 show the controller carrier I 30 as driven from .the drive shaft 26 in a uniform manner, through a mere reduction gearing, this need not necessarily be the case, since all that is necessary is for the controller I 29 to operate the auxiliary switches I 56 in due correlation with the movement of the feed means 2fi'and the devices D. In general, the correspondence of various'parts and features in Figs. 14 and 15 to those in Figs.

1-3 is indicated by use of the same reference numerals for homologous parts in all these figures. ;As a matter of convenience in comprehensive small-scale diagrammatic representation, certain parts'of the testing and control system (hereinafter referred to as test sets and controls) are collectively and more or less arbitrarily represented in Fig. 14: by dot-and-dash rectangles GI, etc., and RI, etc.-theparts forming the testing set GI and the control RI bein however, illustrated in detail in Fig. 15, Within the dot-anddash rectangles there designated GI and RI. As shown in Fig. 14, there are corresponding test sets GI, G2, G3, G4 and controls RI, R2, R3, R4 for .the several testing stations I, II, III, IV. The

principal functions of the system represented in Fig. 14 in the operation of the machine may be preliminarily outlined as follows:

During, the pauses of the devices D at the stations I, II, III, IV, testing power or voltage is applied to them, and the results of these tests may be indicated. This is done by the test sets GI,

G2, G3, G4, which may include testing circuits suitably connected to the contacts 53, 5D and 50,

,50 and may be supplied with power from any suitable source, such as a 110 volt 60 cycle A. C. circuit Pall as more fully explained hereinafter.

t The action of the ejector II is controlled and determined according to the behavior of the devices D' under test at the stations I, II, III, IV. This is done by the test sets GI, G2, G3, G4 acting through the controls RI, R2, R3, R4 (which may also be energized from the circuit P), and

through certain connections and mechanisms interposed between these controls and the ejector II.

In response to the behavior of a device D when tested at the stations I, II, III, IV, the

controlmeans determines the operative connection or disconnection of the ejector actuator 8i ;to or from the ejector II when said device D subsequently reaches the ejection station V.

Failure or unfavorable behavior of a device D .under test at anyone of the stations I, II, III, IV

determines and assures its. segregation 'or 'r'ejec tion at the'statlon V, regardless of the behavior of said device when tested at any other station. To accomplish this through a single ejector mechanism, a rejective determination by any of the test sets GI, G2, G3, G4 acting through the corresponding control RI, R2, R3, R 3 is made predominantly effective on the ejector II through the action of the controller I29, which is operatively interposed between the several controls RI, R2, R3, R4 and the ejector II.

The power supply circuit P from which the testing and control system receives energy is here shown with a supply branch 2 connected thereto through the interposed switch 53 as a master control switch. This switch 60 may be suitably opened and closed during each revolution of the drive shaft 365, preferably during the pauses of the feed means 28, as already explained in connection with Figs. 2 and 5. The testing set GI (and the other testing sets are essentially similar) is shown as connected to the power circuit P through a supply branch I82, a step-down transformer I83, and a rectifier I 84 as connected to the double pairs of testing contact-terminals 50, 59 and 50, 5E); and as including a current responsive device such as a galvanometer I III], which may be provided with a movable mirror IQI. The responsive control RI (and the other controls R2, R3, R2 are similar) is shown as connected to the power circuit P through a supply branch I92; as provided with a light-source I93 (such as an incandescent electric lamp) arranged to shine on the galvanometer mirror I III of test set GI; as including a light-sensitive device such as an electric eye or photoelectric cell I 94; and as also including a controlling relay-switch I95. These particular testing sets and controls GI, etc, and RI, etc., are more fully described hereinafter; but it will of course be understood that in practice they may be replaced by various types of electronic or electromagnetic testing and control apparatus-01, indeed, by any means capable of controlling energization of the circuits 2H I, 202, 293,- 2Il'l according to the current flow through the devices D under test at the stations I, II, III, IV. While the several switches I95 are individually distinguished in Fig. 14 by added letters a, b, c, and d, these are disregarded in the following general description--though used later on in the detailed explanation of the operation of the system.

The responsive controls RI, R2, R3, R4 control parallel auxiliary circuits 285, 292, 283, 204 that correspond to the several devices D at the stations I, II, III, IV, and extend through the respective control switches I95 from one side of ing sets and controls GI, RI, etc.) to control the energization of the corresponding auxiliary branch circuits 26L 292, 2833, 204, respectively. For the operating control of the ejector II, an actuating branch circuit 285 is connected in parallel with the circuits p and ZIJI, 202, 203, 204 between the two sides of the power circuit P, but independent of the switch (it. This actuating branch circuit 235 includes the ejector-controlling-coil or solenoid I85, and its energization Is timed in correlation with the shaft 36 and with the rest of the machine by the switch I20 acting as a master switch. The switch I20 may be suitably opened and closed (like the switch 60) during each revolution of the drive shaft 36, preferably during the pauses of the feed means 20-as already explained in connection with Figs. 2 and 6.

As shown in Fig. 14, the switches I50 of the controller I29, hereinafter generally distingulshed as auxiliary switches, are connected in the circuits 202, 203, 204, 205. The action of any of the test sets and controls GI, etc., and RI etc., in response to the behavior of a device D under test at any of the stations I, II, III, IV directly controls energization of the corresponding auxiliary branch circuit 20!, 202, 203, or 204, which results from closure of the corresponding relay switch I35. From Fig. 14 and the preceding description of the controller I23 in connection with Figs. 8-13, it will be seen that energizetion of one of the series of auxiliary branch cl1- cuits 20 I, 202, 203, 204 would result in raising and rendering active the corresponding actuating member I65, which would then presently close the auxiliary switch I56 that it next reached in its rotary movement with carrier I30; but that energization of any of the branch circuits 202, 203, 234, 205 is impossible unless all preceding circuits of the series have been energized, starting with the circuit fill-which alone can be energized solely as a result of closure of its control switch I95, independently of all other controls (except the master switch 30). Only, therefore, if the actuating member I35 of the controller I29 corresponding to a device being tested is rendered active to operate and close all its switches I56 as a result of closure of all the switches I35 by favorable behavior of a device D under test at all the stations I, II, III, IV is the branch circuit 205 and its solenoid I05 energized, thus withdrawing latch I00 and disconnecting actuator 8i from ejector 1I, so that the latter does not reject the corresponding device D from the feed means 20 when said device reaches station V.

As the testing sets GI, G2, G3, G4 and the controls RI, R2, R3, R4 may be essentially alike for all of the testing stations I, II, III, IV, a description of the station I testing sets and controls GI andRI will suffice.

As shown in Fig. 15, the testing circuit of the test set GI comprises a bridge-circuit across which the galvanometer I90 is connected. In order to minimize the effect on the galvanometer I90 of the possibly irregular contact resistances between the leads Z, l and the contact terminals of the set GI, the testing circuit is preferably a double bridge-circuit of the Kelvin type. The pairs of contact terminals 50, 50 and 50, 50 are connected to the outer and inner bridge circuit loops 201 and 208, respectively; the external power supply connection. comprising the rectifier I84 and the secondary of transformer I33 (in series with one another) is connected in the outer loop 201; and the galvanometer I90 is connected only across the inner loop 208-which as shown also includes substantial fixed resistances 209 (whose values may preferably be equal, and of the order of 100 ohms, for example) in its four legs. The outer loop 201 includes an (adjustable) resistance 2I0, which in practice may conveniently be shunted with a parallel calibrating resistance 2! I, connected to the loop 201 at M2 and 2I3. The

two. 1oops201 and 2.08. are interconnected at. 2I2

and at 2I5 in such a way that the inner loop 208 also includes the resistance 2I0, or such portion thereof as may be determined by the adjustment of the slide-wire connection 2I5 along this resistance 2I0. The loops 201, 208 are also generally interconnected, of course, through the leads Z, Z and the device D under test, by means of the contact terminals 50, 50 and 50, 50: i. e., the device D is normally connected across both the loops.

With the bridge circuit arrangement and. connections above described, and with any given adjustment of the slide-wire connection 2l5 along the resistance 2"), the current flow in the loop circuit 208 is naturally a small proportion of that in the loop circuit 201, which is essentially determined by the resistance of this circuit 201. The contact resistances at 50, 50 are so small as compared with the resistances 209 in circuit 208 that variations in these contact resistances cannot affect the galvanometer I materially; and so (practically) the galvanometer responds to and measures the ratio between the active part of the slide-wire resistance 2 I 0 and the resistance of the device D.

As a safeguard against accidental explosion of detonators D under test, the transformer I83 through which the loop circuit 201 is energized may be designed with such impedance that it can only deliver a current of safely limited value, no matter how low may be the effective resistance of the circuit 201 across the terminals of the transformer secondary.

The responsive control BI is shown in Fig, 15 as comprising the (self-opening, D. C.) relay switch I (already mentioned), whose main contacts 22I, 22] make and break the circuit 20I when the circuit 222 of the coil of electromagnet 223 is energized and de-energized. When the main switch contacts 22I, 22I close, a resistance 225 may preferably be shunted across the circuit 222 in parallel with the electromagnet 223, by means of auxiliary switch contacts 226, 223 (operated by said electromagnet 223 to make and break. concurrently with the main contacts), in order to reduce the holding current in the electromagnet. 223 and thus allow the main switch contacts to reopen under a current only moderately less than that which caused them to close. A capacity 221 such as a condenser is shown connected in shunt across the circuit 222, to prevent burning of the switch contacts 220, 226 by arcing between them.

The control BI is energized from the power supply circuit; P through the branch circuit I92 and a transformer 230 whose primary is connected into the latter. As here shown, the electric lamp I93 which shines on the galvanometer mirror I9! of control RI receives current through a. circuit 23| tapped into the secondary of the transformer 230. The electric eye I94 is connected across the secondary of the transformer 230 by a circuit 232 in one side of which is in cluded a variable (adjustable) capacity or condenser 233, shunted by a resistance 234. The electric eye I94 also has a connection 235 (from its circuit 232, between the eye and the parts 233, 239) to the grid of a vacuum tube amplifier and rectifier 230. The cathode of the tube 235 receives heating current by means of taps to the secondary of the transformer 233, including connections already mentioned and a lead 231. The plate of the tube 236 is connected by a lead 239 to one side of the circuit 222 and thus to the coil-223 of the relay switch I95. of the control RI; and from this coil 223 and the other side of circuit 222, there is a connection through circuit 232, part of the secondary of transformer 230, lead 239, and part of circuit 23I to the oathode of tube 236. The grid of tube 236 is connected through condenser 233 and grid leak 234 to one side of the secondary of transformer 230, and is connected through the electric eye circuit 232 and thecircuit 222 (including coil 223) to the other side of this transformer secondary.

For convenience in explaining the testing operation and the action of the commutator I29, certain stationary parts are individually distinguished in Figs. 14 and 15 by the addition of letters a, b, c, d, or e to their reference numerals, according to the circuit 20I, 202, 203, 204, or 205 to which each of them pertains-though such letters are omitted from Figs. 8-13 and from the preceding description, because such individual distinction of coordinate parts would hitherto have been confusing rather than helpful. Fig. 16 shows the time sequences and correlations in the operation of the mechanisms of the machine, and may be found helpful in understanding its action.

A mode of operation of the machine and of the testing system may now be explained with special reference to Figs. 1, 14, 15, and 16:

Devices D may be placed on the supports 40 of the feed means 20 at any desired point of their travel in advance of the station I and in any suitable manner; and they are fed along by the movement of said feed means, pausing at each of the stations I, II, III, IV, V. Concurrently, the commutator I20 makes a quarter-turn for each movement of a device D from one station to the next, and the switches 60 and I20 and the ejector actuator III are operated once during each pause of the feed means 20. With the connector or latch I arranged to operate as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 14., each device D reaching station V will be removed from the carrier 40 and rejected unless the ejector II and the actuator III are disconnected from one another, by action of coil I on connector latch I00, in each and every instance.

During the pause of each device D at each of the testing stations I, II, III, IV, it is connected to the corresponding testing unit GI, G2, G3, or G4, and is thus subjected to the testing voltage from the secondary of transformer I83, causing a corresponding flow of current through the device D (if its internal circuit is uninterrupted) and through galvanometer I00. A beam of light from lamp I93 is constantly shining on the galvanometer mirror I9I; but preferably the galvanometer I60 is so calibrated that the reflected light beam does not strike the electric eye I90 unless (I) the galvanometer deflects from its normal position, nor unless (2) its deflection corresponds to an impedance for the device D that meets the chosen test-criterion of station I. The switch 60 is held closed by cam 65 long enough for the unit RI, R2, R3, or R0 and the commutator I29 to respond as hereinafter described when the light beam does strike the electric eye If a device D does not pass the test at station I, so'that the reflected light from mirror I9I does not strike electric eye I90, the responsive control BI is not brought into action; control switch I 95a of station I is not closed; circuit 20I and coil I'IZa are not energized; and the corresponding actuating pin I65 in Figs. 14 and 15 is not raised, but allowed to remain in its lower position, as shown. During the subsequent quarterturn of commutator rotor I 30 and the corresponding movement of the defective device D (that has thus failed) from station I to station II, therefore, this pin I65 passes switch I56b without closing it, so that circuit 202 remains open. Accordingly, while the ensuing test of this defective device D at station II does, indeed, take place, and its result is visibly indicated by the galvanometer I of the testing set G2, it is rendered nugatory as regards the action of the machine with respect to this device at station V, because coil I'I2b cannot possibly be energized to raise the pin I 65: i. e., failure of the device D to pass the test at station I automatically entails or predetermines a virtual failure to pass at station II, regardless of subsequent tests. This, similarly, automatically entails or predetermines failure of this device D to pass at station III, regardless of subsequent tests, and at station IV. In other words, separation-determining action of the determining mean-s for any of the stations I, II, III, IV dominates and controls the action of all the succeeding determining means.

If a device D does pass the test at station I, the reflected light from mirror I9! does strike electric eye I94, which allows current to pass through tube 236, thus bringing control RI into action to actuate and close control switch I a of station I, energizing circuit 20I and coil I 1211 to raise the corresponding actuating pin I65 to the dot-and-dash position of Figs. 11 and 12, thus rendering it active. During the subsequent quartor-tum of commutator I30 and the corresponding movement of the device D from station I to station II, this pin I65 strikes actuator I551) and closes switch I561), thus putting the energization of circuit 202 and coil I722) and the raising of the pin I 65 under the control of relay switch I95b of station II when the device D that has passed the test at station I comes under test at station II. If this same device D fails to pass when thus tested at station II, its failure at stations III and IV ensues automatically, just as before; but if it passes the test at station II, it has the opportunity of also passing at stations III and IV.

When a device D fails to pass at station IV- whether directly, by failing to bring the control R4 into action, or indirectly, as a consequence of having failed at one of the stations I, II, III- circuit 204 and coil I'IZd are not energized, the pin I65 is not raised, switch I56e is not closed when the pin I65 passes it, and the subsequent closure of switch I20 during the pause of the defective device D in question at station V fails to energize circuit 205 and coil I06. Accordingly, the ejector II and its actuator or operator 8| remain connected together by connector I00 during the oscillation of actuator 8|, so that ejector II is operated to release or pull ofi the defective device D from the carrier 40 at station V.

On the other hand, when a device D does pass the tests at all the stations I, II, III, IV, the control R 5 energizes circuit 204 and coil I'l2d, raising the pin I65, and thus bringing about subsequent closure of switch I566 and energization of circuit 205 and coil I05. This causes disengagement of connector I00, and disconnects from one another ejector II and ejector operator BI; so that ejector 'II is not operated, and the good device D is allowed to travel on past station V- for subsequent removal or discharge at any desired point and in any desired manner, as at station VI by ejector I2.

It will be understood that while one device D is undergoing its initial test at station I, the device D that precedes it in the machine is at station II undergoing its second test, another device D is at station III undergoing its third test, still another at station IV undergoing its fourth test, and yet another (which has already been tested at all four stations I, II, III, IV) is at station V-Where it is rejected if it has failed in any of its tests. The switches I551), c, d of the controller I29 are definitely and fixedly appropriated to the respective stations. II, III, IV by their circuit connections 202, 203, 204, etc.; but each pin I55 coacts successively with the several actuators I557), c, d, e of these several switches. Functionally, on the other hand, each pin I65 follows a given device D through the machine from station to station-just as if this pin were actually a part of the carrier 40 on which such device D traverses the stations I, II, III, IV, V. The switch 88 operating as already described (and as shown on the timing chart which is Fig. 16) serves to correlate or time the energization of the circuits 2M, 252, 203, 284 and the setting of the pins I55 with the rotary movement of the controller rotor I30 and the pins in relation to the switch actuators I551), c, d, e and the fixed cams I18. The switch I20 operating as described is helpful for correlating or timing the energization of the circuit 235 and the release of connector Inc with the operation of the ejector actuator 8|.

The testing sets GI, G2, G3, G4 may be calibrated and arranged to produce any combination or sequence of tests desired. In connection with automatic ejection of defective devices D through the use of light-beams and light-responsive controls RI, R2, R3, R4, the galvanometers I90 of the testing sets GI and G2 may be so adjusted and the polarities so chosen that the reflected light-beams only strike the electric eyes I94 of the controls RI and R2 when the electrical impedance or resistance of the device D is not above an allowable maximum, while the galvanometers I98 of the testing sets G3 and G4 may be so set and the polarities so chosen (i. e., reversed as compared with those afiecting the testing sets GI and G2) that the reflected lightbeams only strike the electric eyes I94 of the controls R3 and R4 when the impedance or resistance of the device D is not below an allowable minimum. Under these conditions, devices D that pass the tests at stations I, II, III, IV and hence are not rejected at station V will have an impedance between the allowable upper and lower limits.

Preferably, the testing circuit connections to the contact terminals 59, 50 and 5G, 50 at station II may be reversed as compared with station I: e. g., FigM shows the right-hand contact terminals 50, 59 connected to the right-hand sides of the outer and inner loops 201, 208, and the left-hand contacts 59, 50 connected to the lefthand sides of said outer and inner loops at station I; while at station II the right-hand contacts 53, 59 are connected to the left-hand sides of the inner and outer loops, and the lefthand contacts 50, 59 are connected to the righthand sides of the outer and inner loops. Accordingly, the D. C. current flow through the device D and through the contacts 50, 50 is reversed at station II as compared with that at station I; and the inner loop connections (which afiect the galvanometer I98) are between upper and lower contacts 59, 5i) at station II, instead of between lower contacts 50, 58 as at station I. As shown in Fig. 14, the connections of the contact terminals at stations III and IV are like those at stations I and II, respectively-in other words, the testing circuit connections are reversed for the successive sets of contact terminals throughout the entire series of stations I, II, III, IV. Such reversal of testing circuit connections to the contacts of successive sets tends to obviate acceptance of a faulty device D owing to erroneous test results due to contact resistance. This is because the reversal of connections has the effect of shifting the bad contact resistance from one side of the measuring circuit 208 to the other side thereof, thus reversing the direction of any current flow through the galvanometer I that may result from unbalancing of circuit 208 owing to the contact resistance. Generally speaking, a bad contact at 50 is due to a lead wire Z that is dirty, or imperfectly stripped of insulation, or bent so that it isnot properly gripped against one of the contacts 50.

As shown in Fig. 14, the action of the rectifiers I84 is reversed at stations III and IV as compared with stations I and II, to give the reversal of polarity required for low impedance testing at stations III and IV, as against high impedance testing at stations I and II.

The duplication of high tests and low tests renders the chance that a defective device may fail of rejection at station V exceedingly remote, since the chance that a defective device may pass e, single test without being rejected (as a result of failure of the apparatus to function properly) is only about 1 in 108,000. Aside from considerations of extreme caution, such duplication of identical tests is of course superfluous: e. g., only the tests at stations I and III might be performed, while all the parts involved in testing at stations II and IV might be removed, including the corresponding pins I65 and the associated cams. Or the commutator I29 might, of course, be changed, and the machine adapted for testing at two stations only, so as to save the time required to present the devices D at the superfluous testing stations. Or, if just a. single test (at station I) were desired, controller I29 might be entirely omitted and circuit 205 connected into circuit 21H in lieu of solenoid coil I12ainstead of being separately connected across the line P.

It is to be remarked that in the testing system as described and illustrated, the chances of failare are on the side of safety; e. g., failure of any galvanometer ISO to act will lead to rejection of all devices D that are tested; and so likewise will a broken lead or circuit to or in any testing set or control G or R, or failure of the power supply through the line P.

We claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of testing connectors for devices to be tested and means for applying testing power to devices while each device is successively connected to the several connectors, with means for effecting a separation amongst devices that have been tested; means for controlling the action of said separating means, with an actuating circuit for said control means and a switch in said actuating circuit for controlling its energization; actuating members for said actuating-circuit switch, with means for imparting actuating movement to said actuating members independently of test results but in definite correlation with the applications of testing power to devices as aforesaid; means. for rendering saidvactuating members active to actuate the aforesaid actuating-circuit switch, including auxiliary circuits; and means responsive to the behavior of a device under test at each of said connectors for controlling the energization of said auxiliary circuits, and thus also controlling the energization of the aforesaid actuating circuit and the action of said separating means.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a testing connector for devices to be tested and means for applying testing power 'to devices in succession while they are successively connected to said connector, with means for eiTecting a separation amongst devices that have been tested; means for controlling the action of said separating means, including an actuating circuit, a plurality of auxiliary circuits, control switches in a plurality of the aforesaid circuits, actuating members for the aforementioned switches with means for imparting actuating movement to said actuatin members independently of test results but in definite correlation with the application of testing power to devices as aforesaid, and means in the several auxiliary circuits for rendering said actuating members active to actuate the several control switches; and means responsive to the behavior of a device when tested at various connectors for controlling the energization of various auxiliary circuits, and thus also ultimately controlling the energization of said actuating circuit and the action of said separating means.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a plurality of testing connectors for devices to be'tested and means for applying testing power to the devices, in succession, while they are connected to the connectors, means for effecting a separation amongst devices that have been tested and actuating means normally efiective to operate said separating means, means for imparting actuating movement to said actuating means independently of test results but in definite correlation with the applications of testing power as aforesaid, and means responsive only to satisfactory behavior of a device under all tests for rendering said actuating and separating means inoperative with respect to said device.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a plurality of testing connectors, means for the travel of devices to be tested to and from the several connectors in succession, and means for applying testing power to the devices in succession while they are connected to the connectors; of means for rejecting devices from the machine after being tested as aforesaid, and actuating means normally effective to operate said rejecting means, with means for operating said actuating means in definite correlation with the travel of devices as aforesaid but independently of test results;

control means for the aforesaid actuating and rejecting-means including other actuating means moving in definite correlation with the travel of devices as aforesaid but independently of test results; and means responsive only to satisfactory behavior of a device under all tests for enabling said control means and its actuating means last mentioned to render the first-mentioned actuating and rejecting means ineffective to reject said device.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of testing connectors for devices to be tested and means for applying testing power to the devices while they areconnected to the connectors, with means for rejecting devices from the machine after test, actuating means for said rejecting means and means for imparting actuating movement to said actuating means independently of test results but in definite correlation with the applications of testing power as aforesaid, means for connecting and disconnecting said actuating means to and from said rejecting means, control means for said connecting and disconnecting means including circuits corresponding to the several connectors, and means responsive to the behavior of a device under test at any of said connectors for controlling the energization of the circuits.

6. In a machine of the character described, the

combination of a plurality of testing connectors for devices to be tested and means for applying testing power to the devices while they are connected to the connectors, with means for rejecting devices after test, actuating means for said rejecting means and means for imparting actuating movement to said actuating mean independently of test results but in predetermined correlation with the applications of testing power as aforesaid, means for connecting and disconnecting said actuating means to and from said rejecting means, control circuit means for said connecting and disconnecting means including switch means corresponding to various connectors, actuating means for switch means aforesaid moving in predetermined correlation with the applications of testing power to the devices as aforesaid but independently of test results, and means responsive to the behavior of a device under test at any of said connectors for controlling actuation of switch means aforesaid by the last-mentioned actuating means.

'7. In a machine of the character described the combination of a plurality of testing connectors, means for the travel of devices to be tested to and from the several connectors in succession, and means for applying testing power to the devices, in succession, while they are connected to the connectors, with means for rejecting devices after test, actuating means for said rejecting means and means for imparting actuating movement to said actuating means in definite correlation with the travel of devices as aforesaid but independently of test results, means for connecting and disconnecting said actuating means to and from said rejecting means, control circuit means for said connecting and disconnecting means including switch means corresponding to various connectors, actuating means for switch means aforesaid moving in definite correlation with the travel of devices from connector to connector but independently of test results, and means responsive to the behavior of a device under test at any of said connectors for controlling the actuation of switch means aforesaid by said actuating means.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of testing connectors for devices to be tested and means for applyin testing power to the devices, in succession, through the several connectors, with means for effecting a separation amongst devices that have been tested, control means for said separating means including an actuating circuit, a series of auxiliary circuits with a control switch in each of them, and auxiliary switches in circuits aforesaid of said control means, actuating members for said auxiliary switches operated independently of test results but in definite correlation with the applications of testing power through corresponding. connectors as aforesaid, ,means con,-

. 21 trolled by the several auxiliary circuits for rendering effective or ineffective the actuating members afiecting the auxiliary switches in succeeding circuits of said control means, and means responsive to the behavior of devices under test for actuating said control switches.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of testing connectors for devices to be tested and means for applying testing power to the devices, in succession, through the several connectors, with means for effecting a separation amongst devices that have .been tested, control means for said separating means including an actuating circuit, a series of auxiliary circuits with a control switch in each of them, and auxiliary switches in circuits aforesaid of said control means, actuating members for said auxiliary switches operated independently of test results but in definite correlation with the applications of testing power through corresponding connectors as aforesaid, means con trolled by the several auxiliary circuits for rendering effective or ineiiective the actuating mem bers affecting the auxiliary switches in succeeding circuits of said control means, means operating in correlation with said actuating members for timing the energization of said auxilary circuits, and means responsive to the behavior of devices under test for actuating said control switches.

10. In a machine, of the character described, the combination of a plurality of testing connectors for devices to be tested and means for applying testing voltage to the devices, succession, through the several connectors, with means for effecting a separation amongst devices that have been tested, control means for said separating means including an actuating circuit, a series of auxiliary circuits with a control switch in each of them, and auxiliary switches in circuits aforesaid of said control means, actuating members for said auxiliary switches operated independently of test results but in definite correlation with the applications of testing voltage through corresponding connectors as aforesaid, means controlled by the several auxiliary circuits for rendering effective or ineffective the actuating members afiecting the auxiliary switches in succeeding circuits of said control means, and means responsive to the behavior of devices under the applied voltage, according to the impedances of said devices, for actuating said control switches.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of testing connectors for devices to be tested and means for applying testing power to the devices, in succession, through the several connectors, with means for effecting a separation amongst devices that have been tested and actuating means therefor, means for operatively connecting and disconnecting said actuating means to and from said separating means, control means for said connecting and disconnecting means including an actuating circuit, a series of auxiliary circuits with a control switch in each of them, and auxiliary switches in circuits aforesaid of said control means, actuating members for said auxiliary switches operating in correlation with the aforesaid testing power applying means, means controlled by the several auxiliary circuits for rendering effective or ineffective the actuating members aifecting the auxiliary switches in succeeding circuits of said control means, and means responsive to the behavior of devices under test for actuating said control switches.

12. Ina machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of testing circuits with means for connecting devices to be tested successively-to them and means for applying testing voltage to the devices through the several testing circuits, with means for effecting a separation amongst devices that have been tested, control means for said separating means including an actuating circuit, a series of auxiliary circuits with a relay switch in each or" them, auxiliary switches in circuits aforesaid of said control means, and actuating members for said auxiliary switches operating in correlation with the aforesaid voltage applying means, means controlled by the several auxiliary circuits for rendering effective or ineffective the actuating members affecting the auxiliary switches in succeeding circuits of said control means, and means responsive to the behavior of devices under test for actuating said relay switches including mirror galvanometers bridged across said testing circuits, light-sensitive means responsive to movement of the galvanometer mirrors, and means for energizing said relay switches controlled by said lightsensitive means.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a testing connector and means for applying testing power to devices while they are connected to said connector, means for the travel of devices to be tested comprising a series of carriers severally comprising means for holding the current leads of devices carried by said carriers, and means responsive to the behavior of devices under test for removing them from said carriers and engaging their current leads and moving said. leads sidewise out of said holding means.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination with successive sets of contacts, and means for the travel of devices to be tested from one set of contacts to another and for connecting the devices across contacts of each set, of testing circuits for applying direct current voltage to the devices reversely connected to contacts of said successive sets, and test-controlled means responsive to the currents flowing in said testing circuits also reversely connected to the contacts of successive sets.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination with successive sets of contacts, and means for the travel of devices to be tested from one set of contacts to another and for connecting the devices across the contacts of each et, of a Kelvin double bridge circuit including a power circuit reversely connected to contacts of successive sets for applying direct current voltage to the devices, and a measuring circuit also reversely connected to contacts of successive sets and including test responsive means.

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination with successive sets of contacts and means for the travel of devices to be tested from one set of contacts to another, of a Kelvin double bridge circuit including a power circuit reversely connected to contacts of successive sets for applying direct current voltage to the devices, and a measuring circuit also reversely connected to contacts of successive sets, means for rejecting devices from said means of travel and actuating means for said rejecting means operated independently of test results but in definite correlation with the travel of the devices as aforesaid, with means for controlling the actuation of said rejecting means by said actuating means including responsive means in said measuring circuit. 

